It is rumored that my blood is occasionally diluted by plasma, aside the more usual mix of coffee and cream. And it’s true that I long for the day when the Internet of Things, or IoT, covers connected coffee machines. That dream has taken a small step closer with Belkin’s new – okay people, take a deep breath – “Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Smart Optimal Brew Coffeemaker with WeMo.” This new coffee machine has the technology that allows one to schedule, monitor and adjust the coffee brewing process, over a WiFi network. You can set up the machine to deliver coffee at the moment of the alarm or as one is about to get in from work. How is this achieved? The Belkin Mr. Coffee machine uses the WeMo application service. This free application allows one to plan your coffee up to a week in advance and let’s you know when you need to change the filter or empty the carafe.
The machine is designed to brew coffee at the optimum temperature of 205 degrees and it uses a high performance coffee blending core; it can brew ten cups of coffee in eight minutes. It holds this coffee in a stainless steel vacuum flask and has an emergency override should the WiFi stop working. Presumably, the override is a big red button because, believe me if the WiFi stops working, I’ll be needing coffee.
Okay; so far, so good and the Mr. Coffee is a step in the right direction but it is only a step. The WeMo application service can currently integrate lights and switches with the coffee machine, but it’s not particularly smart. It cannot adapt as the Nest smart thermostat can and it doesn’t connect up to the great big (undeveloped) Internet of Things. It’s a baby step, there’s much more to come in time. I’m looking forward to when my smartwatch and smartphone inform my house that I’ve caught the bus and I’ll be home in thirty three minutes. Meanwhile, at home the system assesses the house temperature and realizes that it’ll take twenty minutes to warm the house. It realizes that it’s a Friday so I’m probably going to want to grab a quick coffee before heading back out again, so it’ll brew one coffee and it’ll have this pretty much starting as I arrive home, as it doesn’t take long to brew. Mr. Coffee is out now at $150 and is compatible with all Android 4.0 and later devices.